Chickens

The city of Circle Pines currently allows chickens on single family residential lots that are more than 10,000 square feet in size. Resident lots that are less than 15,000 square feet must fill out a Neighborhood Approval Permit.

The Neighborhood Approval Permit must be approved by seventy percent (70) of the property owners adjacent to the applicant’s property within one hundred fifty (150) feet. City staff will identify those neighbors for the applicant. The applicant will be responsible for obtaining the signatures.

Permit Requirements

1. No more than four (4) hens. Roosters are prohibited.

2. Site plan required-submit a site plan showing the location of the property lines, house, garage, chicken coop, chicken run. The site plan should include all setbacks from coop/run to property lines and to dwellings. Must be located in rear yard set back twenty-five (25) feet from any residential dwelling and at least fifteen (15) feet from all property lines and not located in any utility or drainage easements.

3. Submit detailed plans showing the size and specifications of the chicken coop and run. Minimum size of coop is four (4) square feet per chicken and not to exceed forty (40) square feet in total. Maximum height is twelve (12) feet. Enclosed runs shall be attached to the coop and fencing shall be adequate to keep chickens in and predators out. Maximum run size of forty (40) square feet and set back twenty-five (25) feet from all residential structures and fifteen (15) feet from the property lines. The enclosed coop must be maintained in good condition and be sufficient in strength and size to allow chickens to move about, but not escape.

4. All chickens must be kept in enclosed coop or enclosed run. The chickens living area must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, devoid of all rodents and vermin and free from objectionable odors.

5. Waste must be disposed of on a weekly basis.

6. Grains and feed must be stored in rodent and raccoon-proof containers inside of a structure.

7. Coop must be built to protect chickens from extreme cold or heat.

8. Chickens must not be raised or kept for the purpose of fighting.

9. No permit will be granted within a dwelling or garage.

10. No outdoor butchering of chickens.

11. Dead chickens must be disposed of according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health rules which requires chicken carcasses to be disposed of as soon as possible after death, usually within forty-eight (48) hours to seventy-two (72) hours. Legal forms of chicken carcass disposal include offsite burial, offsite incineration or rendering, or offsite composting.

12. The city may inspect the premises to ensure compliance with city ordinances.

13. If you no longer keep chickens, you must notify the city and remove the coop upon the expiration of this permit.